He raised his feet above the dashboard and kicked at the windshield. His feet slid across it. He tried again. He could not get a solid shot at it.

“Damnit! Damnit! God damnit!”

Sinking. The water was higher on the windshield.

“The fucking gun!”

He snatched the key out of the ignition and unlocked the glove compartment. He grabbed the pistol. With his free hand, he searched for the bullets. He pushed aside repair bills and unpaid parking tickets. He felt metal and pulled out two bullets.

“Come on, Julia. Please. I’ll shoot out the window. Yeah, more water, I know. But it will be a way out. And it will be so much easier if you can get yourself out. I’ll do it, if you can’t. But, come on, please—”

The car lurched forward. The bullets fell from his hand. Into the water inside the car. He reached into the glove compartment and found another round. He started to place a bullet in the chamber, and the Honda dropped a foot. His head slammed into the windshield, and Addis bobbled the gun and the bullet. Both disappeared into the brackish water.

“Jesus!”

Halfway up the windshield. The water had reached Lancette’s breasts. She was leaning against the passenger door.

“Somebody fucking help us!” he screamed.

He looked out the back window. It was partly covered by water. In the yellow, refracted glow of a streetlight, someone was walking toward the canal. Addis could make out a form. The silhouette came to the edge. Thirty feet, twenty feet away. The driver of the Trailblazer or someone else? he thought. Fuck.

“Come on!” Addis shouted at the figure. “Please!”

The person did not move. Addis leaned over the front seat and crawled into the back. He pounded on the rear window.

“Do something! Do fucking something!”

Halfway up the back window.

Addis pulled Lancette’s head back by the hair to keep her mouth above the water in the car. He hit the back window again.

“Don’t stand there! Get some fucking help!”

The figure raised an arm and pointed it at the back window.

Oh fuck me!

Addis ducked. The glass cracked into a crazy spiderweb. But the window held in place. He lifted his head. Water poured through the bullet hole. The figure was still there. Addis dropped his head again, reaching back to keep Lancette upright. Another shot hit the window, and it gave way. Water collided against Addis. He lost hold of Lancette. The Honda’s descent quickened. Addis pushed his face toward the roof. He took in a deep breath. The water was at his chin.